Thornton's early career and lyrics with the Ultramagnetic MC's often referenced his time as a patient of Bellevue, a psychiatric hospital, where he was treated for depression. With Ultramagnetic MC's, his abstract style developed, maturing in songs like Poppa Large. He was probably the first rapper to create an alter ego, and then create an alter ego for that alter ego (Kool Keith v. Moe Luv). After the Ultramagnetic MC's broke up, he expanded his resume, experimenting with new styles, including his self-described pornocore, known for pornographic imagery and brutal, abstract lyrics. Sex Style released in 1997, was the showcase for this genre.
Teaming up with Dan the Automator Nakamura under the name Dr. Octagon, Thornton again reinvented his image, recording the self-titled Dr. Octagon album (later reissued under the title Dr. Octagonecologyst) which was released by the English trip hop label Mo Wax. The album received critical acclaim, though mainly from sources outside the mainstream hip-hop community. The critical success of the album helped to open the accessibility of the underground hip hop scene to an appreciative audience. For Dan the Automator, this album laid the foundation for a burgeoning career and accolades as a producer; for Thornton, the success of Dr. Octagonecologyst seemed to put him in danger of being typecast as a "space and Mars" rapper, or an industry tool, which he throughout his career has looked down upon.
His style as a whole is characterized by non sequiturs and bizarre commentary, particularly anal, fecal and genital references. For example, "Chief administrator suck my oil," "Dr. Ludicrous I turn into an octopus," "All this jealousy shit is mayonnaise and celery shit," "Two drinks minimum, don't worry, we're maximum," etc. An instrumental version of the album, Instrumentalyst, showcased the production, became a rising success with most of the credit given to Dan the Automator and other collaborators, even though Thornton is credited on the LP with some production duties.
List of projects, groups and alter-egos:
- Ultramagnetic MC's
- Dr. Octagon
- Dr. Dooom
- Sinister 6000 (Dan the Automator)
- Black Elvis
- Masters of Illusion
- Analog Brothers
- Mr. Nogatco
- Project Polaroid
- Tashan Dorset
- Sex Style
- Ultra
- The Cenobites
- Sergei Khmelev
(this list is incomplete)
Sex Style
Kool Keith Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Honey that's when she backs off and just lick her teeth..."
[Chorus: ]
They dogs drink my piss (Girls pay a fee)
You want freestlye that's right the style is free
Niggas suck my dick and they girls drink my pee
I'm on some S&M shit you can't get with
Pull your panties down on stage and watch you sweat quick
Suckers back to pull their style's transsexual
Lesbians dance with the funky heterosexual
You on the mic, and when you rhyme I start to jerk off
Let my dog lick you German Shepard want to bust off
I tell your legs and swat em, MC's having anal sex
Step around like a Tampax, and step up next
I enter New York, no problem with my dick out
California porno star, my ass you can lick out
Saying "What?" with sperm dripping down your partner's butt
I see MC's in my face with their ass up
Let me put my cape on, my rubber and my mask up
Not no horror-core shit, this is porno-core
I'm in the club naked man, I'm the fucking pro
Niggas can't wax no ass, girls should let them know
[Chorus x3 ]
Back I wreck shit, so what nigga? I masturbate
See your girls' cocked back, her legs tied like a figure eight
I'm on stage getting sucked by Madonna
Sticking piped in your ass until you stop the freesyle drama
I pioneered this shit, you keep sucking dick
Your girl's in the crowd, hawking me for a naked flick
I got my silk underwear for the atmosphere
Piss in your face and urinate all in your hair
You name a group that's shit, I will pooper-scoop
Fuck with this, miss, I will damage on the premesis
Niggas step back with Dax grease, watch their ass twist
I rhyme any nigga, golden showers up in Greek Alley
Movie star bitches, MC's lining up in Cali
Drinking vodka, Absolut, sipping Tanqueray
Mc's jump off, I stung your rectum like a stingray
Girls heinie-wipe, MC's say my style is hype
Pussies relax, I'd rather fuck them with a cordless mic
Could rob a horse, pull your panties off and pay the cost
[Chorus x2
"May they beat his bowels with a ten-pound hammer til his asshole
whistles the Star-Spangled Banner."
Now the nurse is here, Dr. Butcher to your anus
I don't care who your are, and if you think you're famous
You could be waxed, seventy-five fucking rap groups
Bisexuals on stage eating fruit loops
Sugar smacks, I got the rhythm for your ass cracks
Bring your girl, she fantasize in my sex world
[Chorus x3]
It's hard to even know where to start with these lyrics from Kool Keith's song Sex Style. The song is obviously meant to be provocative and shocking, but there's more to it than that. The first two lines of the verse seem to be referring to a woman seeing a man's sexual fluids (the "first drop of juice") and being repulsed. But then the next line says that she just licks her teeth, which could mean that she's showing interest despite her initial hesitation. The chorus seems to play on this idea of people wanting something for free but also paying a price, with Keith claiming that men will do whatever he wants (including drinking his urine) while women will pay a fee for his services.
The rest of the verses continue with this theme of Keith being in control of sexual situations and enjoying pushing boundaries. He mentions S&M, watching people sweat, and dogs licking people. There's a lot of blurring of gender lines and sexual preferences, such as when he talks about "lesbians dance[ing] with the funky heterosexual" or "bisexuals on stage eating fruit loops." The final line about "robbing a horse" is perhaps the most absurd of all, as it seems to suggest Keith can do anything he wants.
Overall, the song is a chaotic and crude exploration of sexuality and power dynamics. It's not a song for everyone, and even those who enjoy it may find it hard to fully parse all the references and metaphors. But it does showcase Kool Keith's unique approach to hip-hop, which has always been more interested in pushing boundaries than sticking with the mainstream.
Line by Line Meaning
Now the first drop of juice is there for her to see
The woman can see the first signs of his sexual attraction towards her.
Honey that's when she backs off and just lick her teeth...
The woman is hesitant at first, but then becomes interested and aroused by his sexual advances.
(Sex style!) Niggas want it free
The style of his music and sexual expression is unique and in demand, but he will not give it away for free.
They dogs drink my piss (Girls pay a fee)
Men who try to imitate him are worthless and take from him, while women are willing to pay for his unique sexual experiences.
I'm on some S&M shit you can't get with
He is into BDSM and his sexual preferences are beyond most people's comprehension.
Pull your panties down on stage and watch you sweat quick
He has a dominant sexual energy and enjoys making women feel submissive and vulnerable.
Suckers back to pull their style's transsexual
Other rappers who try to copy his style are fake and inauthentic.
Lesbians dance with the funky heterosexual
He is sexually appealing to both lesbians and heterosexual women.
You on the mic, and when you rhyme I start to jerk off
He is sexually attracted to other male rappers and fantasizes about them while they perform.
Let my dog lick you German Shepard want to bust off
He enjoys incorporating bestiality into his sexual experiences.
I tell your legs and swat em, MC's having anal sex
He enjoys watching male rappers engage in anal sex and humiliates them because of it.
Step around like a Tampax, and step up next
He is confident in his sexual abilities and challenges others to try to follow his lead.
I enter New York, no problem with my dick out
He is unapologetic about his sexuality and does not care about societal norms or expectations.
California porno star, my ass you can lick out
He is sexually appealing to women in the porn industry and enjoys having his anus licked.
Saying "What?" with sperm dripping down your partner's butt
He has no respect for women and enjoys humiliating them during sex.
I see MC's in my face with their ass up
He is sexually attracted to other male rappers and enjoys having power over them.
Let me put my cape on, my rubber and my mask up
He enjoys dressing up and roleplaying in his sexual encounters.
Not no horror-core shit, this is porno-core
His sexual expression is not meant to be scary or violent, but rather it is explicitly sexual.
I'm in the club naked man, I'm the fucking pro
He is confident and unashamed about being naked and sexually expressive in public.
Niggas can't wax no ass, girls should let them know
He believes that most men are incapable of satisfying women sexually.
Back I wreck shit, so what nigga? I masturbate
He is confident in his own sexual ability and satisfaction, regardless of what others may think.
See your girls' cocked back, her legs tied like a figure eight
He enjoys bondage and the power dynamic it creates in his sexual encounters.
I'm on stage getting sucked by Madonna
He enjoys incorporating famous and powerful women into his sexual fantasies.
Sticking piped in your ass until you stop the freesyle drama
He enjoys using anal sex to intimidate and humiliate his sexual partners.
I pioneered this shit, you keep sucking dick
He is a trailblazer in the realm of sexually explicit and unconventional music.
Your girl's in the crowd, hawking me for a naked flick
Women are sexually attracted to him and want to be involved in his sexual experiences.
I got my silk underwear for the atmosphere
He pays attention to the details of his sexual encounters and sets the mood with his clothing and surroundings.
Piss in your face and urinate all in your hair
He enjoys incorporating urine into his sexual experiences and humilitating his partners.
You name a group that's shit, I will pooper-scoop
He is not impressed with other rappers and has no problem calling them out on their lack of authenticity.
Fuck with this, miss, I will damage on the premesis
He is a force to be reckoned with in the music industry and should not be underestimated.
Niggas step back with Dax grease, watch their ass twist
Other male rappers are no match for him and should not try to compete.
I rhyme any nigga, golden showers up in Greek Alley
He is a versatile and talented rapper who can take on anyone, and also enjoys urinating on his partners in public.
Movie star bitches, MC's lining up in Cali
He is sexually appealing to movie stars and other rappers trying to get in on his sexual experiences.
Drinking vodka, Absolut, sipping Tanqueray
He enjoys alcohol and incorporates it into his sexual experiences.
Mc's jump off, I stung your rectum like a stingray
He is aggressive and dominent in his sexual encounters, and enjoys causing pain to his partners.
Girls heinie-wipe, MC's say my style is hype
He is able to appeal to both men and women in his music and sexual expression.
Pussies relax, I'd rather fuck them with a cordless mic
He enjoys using unconventional and unexpected objects as sex toys.
Could rob a horse, pull your panties off and pay the cost
He is willing to do anything sexually, regardless of how taboo or stigmatized it is.
"May they beat his bowels with a ten-pound hammer til his asshole whistles the Star-Spangled Banner."
This is a violent and vulgar way of saying that he will not conform to societal norms and will continue to be sexually avant-garde, despite any criticism or backlash he may face.
Now the nurse is here, Dr. Butcher to your anus
He enjoys medical play and incorporating medical procedures into his sexual encounters.
I don't care who your are, and if you think you're famous
He does not care about fame or success in the conventional sense, as his focus is on his unique sexual expression.
You could be waxed, seventy-five fucking rap groups
He is sexually dominant over other male rappers and does not respect their authority or reputation.
Bisexuals on stage eating fruit loops
He is sexually attractive to both men and women and enjoys watching them engage in unconventional and taboo sexual activities.
Sugar smacks, I got the rhythm for your ass cracks
He is confident in his sexual abilities and knows how to please his partners.
Bring your girl, she fantasize in my sex world
He enjoys making women feel comfortable and safe in their sexual desires and fantasies.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: KEITH THORNTON, KURT MATLIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind